This is freedom?

[indigo_rose99]

LAX TSA secretly confiscated my bag of liquids when they went thru the scanner. I didn't notice they were gone for an hour. Thinking I had forgotten them, agents refused to let me near them, strongly implying arrest or expulsion if I protested. I feel violated. It took 15 years to find tiny leakproof bottles...

Comments

[fraeuleinchen.livejournal.com]

OMG. Will you get them back? Are they not required to tell you that they've taken them? For inspection?!

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

I saw they were missing 5 minutes before boarding. I ran back to the security checkpoint thinking I had forgotten them in a bin. I was everything that was a polite traveler in a hurry to catch a flight. I honestly thought at the time that it was a mistake.

This was the point where they were utterly locked in and inflexible. I could see my bag! They refused to say WHY it was in a bin.

I very politely said that my liquids always follow their rules, I must have just left it, could I go fetch it? This was the point where their attitudes became VERY threatening. It was clear to me that if I took a step toward my liquids, at BEST I would be tackled and arrested. I felt very intimidated.

I asked if there was ANYTHING I could do to get my very personally valuable bottles back.

No. Absolutely nothing.

I now realize that there was only one point where my possessions were out of my direct sight: When they went through the scanner. I put my last bag on the conveyor belt, and I was waiting at the other side when the first bin came through. My bag of liquids was not in my bin when it came though. Someone TOOK the bag of liquids while it was in the scanner. While it was out of my sight.

Could there have been one bottle that they wanted to confiscate? Yes.

I thought TSA were required to discuss it with me, show what they wanted, and just take that one item. Evidently they can do whatever they want. They can decide something looks nice in a pocket and just TAKE it. No discussion. No argument.

How exactly is this different from theft?

I've been trying to replace the bottles. 4 stores. I cannot find replacements. So far, the contents of the bag have cost me ~$60 (+ gas) to try to replace. Five items in that bag are functionally irreplaceable, as they are no longer sold anywhere.

I have been trying to find if there are rules on TSA's method of confiscation of items. I cannot find any documented rules limiting their behavior. They can take whatever they want, however they want. Anything in your pockets or bag is theirs if they want it.

[fraeuleinchen.livejournal.com]

I am outraged on your behalf, and in sympathy, but probably not nearly as upset as you are, understandably.

Is this a police state?!

:(

[mr-efficient.livejournal.com]

At least they didn't get your name wrong.

[cat-napp.livejournal.com]

I say pitch a polite hissy fit to LAX, and go as high up the chain of command as you can. You'll never get your bottles back, but maybe you can at least get *some* kind of compensation out of them.